Florida State is facing growing financial pressure as head coach Mike Norvell holds a 38–34 record while earning $5.4 million annually. At the same time, the program operates with an NIL budget exceeding $16 million and an athletic department debt that has ballooned to $437 million, with total institutional debt reaching $617 million.
To generate additional revenue, Florida State Seminoles will host Banana Ball events at Doak Campbell Stadium in February 2026. The games are part of the Savannah Bananas World Tour and will also include matchups at Dick Howser Stadium before a finale inside Doak. Athletic director Michael Alford called the event significant, as it will be the first non-football event in the renovated stadium.
Doak is ready for Banana Ball pic.twitter.com/nZVGOVVrvm
— Barstool FSU (@FSU_Barstool) February 16, 2026
Banana Ball — often compared to the Harlem Globetrotters for its entertainment-driven style — has surged in popularity, drawing massive crowds nationwide. In 2025, Clemson Tigers hosted the Bananas at Memorial Stadium under a revenue-sharing model. Clemson covered operational costs but still cleared roughly $250,000 in profit, thanks to alcohol and luxury suite sales from a crowd exceeding 81,000.
FSU hopes for similar success at its 67,277-seat venue as it looks to offset heavy expenses. Recent renovations to Doak Campbell Stadium cost $265 million, while a new football operations center added another $138 million. Overall athletic spending climbed to $208.2 million in 2025, and declining donations and ticket sales following subpar seasons have worsened the strain.
Hosting Banana Ball is viewed as a strategic move to tap into a proven entertainment brand and create new revenue streams. Whether it meaningfully eases Florida State’s financial burden remains to be seen.